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Re: various (was streptocarpus)

hi claire, for some reason i thought you were out in long island!

my bougainvillea doesn't have any name, it's just a nice green one with
reddish bracts.  i also have a miniature one, with pink bracts in bloom.
there are many cultivars, including salmon colored, variegated/splashed
leaves, etc... among other vendors, try logee's in connecticut.  they have a
big selection. i haven't tried many, i don't have a lot of room (it's a one
bedroom apt...sigh).  but i find them very easy, just water a lot (they are
thirst drinkers), give them some cool temps in hte winter, lots of light, and
that's it.  as a matter of fact, i didn't repot my plant for several years,
keeping it confined to a small pot (i didn't want it to get too big).

as for orchids, they are EASIER than most people think.  i suggest you start
reading on the web or get books from the library.  depending on your
conditions, there are many that you can grow.  many need full sun, some shade,
many will grow better in cool environments (some are even hardy in your zone),
others strictly tropical... i grow dendrobium species, cattleya hybrids,
epidendrums, some vandaceous, some paphs that never bloom (sigh!), etc...  for
many, phalaenopsis are the beginner's orchid and they don't need full sun,
just bright light.  believe it or not, but most orchids have metabolism
similar to succulents (have you noticed how "succulent" the pseudobulbs,
leaves and stems many are?), which means that many are very forgiving if you
forget to water them.  as a matter of fact, i think most people kill them by
overwatering and rotting their roots.  what they need is high humidity, not
necessarily frequent and copious watering.  but i'm speaking in very general
terms here, i suggest you read a lot and speak with others before starting on
them.

re: hardy gesneriads, the family is mostly tropical with the exception of a
few, like ramonda, taht are alpine.  i don't know if they are hardy in your
zone, but i doubt it.  some are hardy in nj, like ramonda, haberlea and
hemiboea.

please visit the aggs webpage for more info and do consider joining.  take
care.

tsuh yang (first name) chen, nyc (Rhipsalis and Kohleria in bloom too)
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